UPDATED: Clinton ‘pleased’ at Chen’s departure, but advocates say Chen still calling for help

BEIJING, May 2, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Reports on the true condition of Chen Guangcheng following his departure from the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday continued to conflict as Chinese and U.S. officials say the human rights activist is “very happy” and pleased with the outcome, while international advocates and Chen’s close friends in China say he has only acted under duress and is still calling for help.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement this afternoon that she had spoken with Chen, and that she and her officials were “pleased that we were able to facilitate Chen Guangcheng’s stay and departure from the U.S. Embassy in a way that reflected his choices and our values.”

“Mr. Chen has a number of understandings with the Chinese government about his future, including the opportunity to pursue higher education in a safe environment,” said Clinton. “Making these commitments a reality is the next crucial task. The United States Government and the American people are committed to remaining engaged with Mr. Chen and his family in the days, weeks, and years ahead.”

Chen’s lawyer Li Jinsong said the activist told him he was “very happy and wants to hug all his friends,” according to AP.

Yet Zeng Jinyan, a Beijing activist, is backing up reports from other human rights activists that Chen did not leave the Embassy of his own volition, as U.S. and China both report, but had been threatened with harm to his wife and child if he did not comply.

“It’s impossible, he couldn’t do anything. He said, ‘please help me’,” Zeng told the Associated Press. Zeng’s account backs up the report of ChinaAid president Bob Fu, who says he also heard from reliable sources that Chen’s departure was under duress.

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Possibly due to a secret deal between China and the U.S., ailing human rights activist Chen Guangcheng entered a Beijing hospital Wednesday after leaving the U.S. Embassy where he had fled from his brutalized house arrest. One report from a reliable source says Chen has been “abandoned” by the Obama administration whereas the US government insists it is keeping Chen and his family safe.

The human rights activist has reportedly been escorted to a local hospital to treat his ailments, which were caused or exacerbated during his four-year prison term and 19 months of house arrest, and which according to U.S. advocacy groups brought him close to death at least once.

“‘I’m free. I’ve received clear assurances,”’ Chen told his lawyer in a phone call, according to the Associated Press. The Chinese government’s news service, Xinhua, reported that Chen left the Embassy “of his own volition.”

However the U.S. group ChinaAid said it received reports from reliable source that Chen’s departure was under duress, as “serious threat to his immediate family members were made by Chinese government” if he refused to accept their offer.

And although ChinaAid says the U.S. Assistant Secretary called to reassure the group of America’s commitment to keeping Chen and his family safe, the group says it has also received reports from reliable sources that the United States has “abandoned Mr. Chen.”

“We are deeply concerned about this sad development if the reports about Chen’s involuntary departure (from US Embassy) is true,” said Bob Fu, President of ChinaAid, who called upon both countries to reveal the details of the negotiation.

Chen’s escape came at a sensitive time for U.S.-China relations as U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were due for a visit to the Communist country this week, and the Obama administration had declined to state whether it would stand up for the refugee. President Obama had refused to comment Tuesday when asked about helping Chen, a leading advocate for Chinese women against forced abortions under the one-child policy.

Chen will be able to reunite with his wife and family at the hospital, according to one U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. Chen’s wife and family members had also been subject to severe beatings, starvation, and maltreatment during Chen’s captivity but didn’t escape with him onto American territory,

Meanwhile, the Chinese government is demanding an “apology” from the U.S. for harboring the maltreated human rights activist for six days, according to its news service.